MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 257, 8 April 1875, Page 2

MAGISTRATES’ COURTS.

CHRISTCHURCH. Thursday, April 8,

[Before Gr. L. Mellish, Esq., 11. M., and Col, Packe, J.P.]

Contempt of Court. —Thos. Kelly, who had been locked up for appearing in court the previous day intoxicated, was discharged with a caution. Drunkenness and Vagrancy.—Frederick Beach, charged with being drunk, tearing the constable’s clothes, and leading an idle and disorderly life, was sentenced to three months’ imprisonment, with hard labour.

Drunk and Disorderly.— Daniel Egan was fined 10s, and Edward Duggan 10s. Breach of City Byelaws. —For permitting horses and cattle to wander, the following persons were dealt with:—William Brooker, fined ss; Peter Hill, ss: John Murphy, ss; George Simpson, ss; Alfred Culliford, ss; Phillip Taylor, ss; Benjamin Bulmer (two informations), 10s; William Ballinger, ss; James Walker, ss; B, Macpherson, 10s; James Kearney, ss; Eobert Tepple, ss; A. Axworth, ss; Frederick Baker, ss; Andrew McTaggart, ss; Frederick Peiper, ss; J. Garland, ss; Wm. Neighbors, ss. Alexander Forbes, summoned for driving five horses in Durham street during prohibited hours, was fined 10s. Four informations against Charles Oswald, summoned for obstructing Salisbury street with a building, were adjourned until Thursday next. Thos Grigg, summoned on information for failing to keep a light on scaffolding and building materials in Hereford street, was fined 10s in each case. George Palmer, summoned for driving on the wrong side of the road in Oxford terrace, and causing an accident thereby, was fined 10s. For creating an obstruction, by tethering a goat in a thoroughfare, John Connor was fined 10s. George Harris, for tethering one calf and two lambs in an accommodation road, was fined 10s ; and W. H. Hardy, for tethering a horse on the same road, was fined 10s. John Letherby was summoned for obstructing the thoroughfare with a grinding machine for a one hour and a half and fined 10s. For being absent from horses and vehicles, the following fines were inflicted: — Stephen Brighting, 10s ; Cornelius Dyer, 10s; Samuel Whittington, 10s; AValter Pearl, 10s. A similar summons against Frederick Chambers was dismissed.

Unregistered Dogs The following owners of unregistered dogs were dealt with —Win. .Savage fined 20s; Jas. Robertson, 20s ; Joseph Jones, 20s; Michael Lawlor, 20s, J. Appleyard, 20s.

Breach of Public House Ordinance. —Robert Little was charged with keeping open his licensed house, the Ellesmere Arms Hotel, at Tai Tapu, on the 26th and 27th March, after prohibited hours, selling drink during the same, and permitting gambling in his house on the former date. Mr Thomas appeared for the defendant, and asked that the charges might be taken separately. Serjeant Pratt, who conducted the case for the police, asked that the information of the 27th might be amended, as all the offences occurred on the 26th. Alfred Merton being called, stated that on the night of Good Friday, 26th ult., he was in defendant’s bar. There were several others in the bar at the time, and he played Yankee grabb for drinks with Mrs Little. With the exception of one person, all the others were strangers to him. In cross-examination by Mr Thomas, the witness stated that he was travelling with a threshing machine, and had been working in the neighbourhood of defendant’s house that day. He bad played Yankee grabb for drinks, and did not see any throwing for money. A man named Judge asked him that day to get him a couple of nips, as he knew Little would not serve him. He got him two nobblers in a bottle, and when he handed it to Judge he said “ It was a nice thing for Little to keep open his house on a Good Friday.” William Goodwin was in defendant’s house that night. There were others in the bar at the time. He had had a drink there, but saw no gambling going on. James Hayes was in defendant’s house that night. He and defendant played Yankee grabb for drinks, and also for 5s a time. He had one turn and defendant another. The witness, in cross-examination, said he was rather intoxicated that day ; but he was nearly certain he and defendant had played for money. He had challenged defendant to play. On the charge of gambling, Mr Thomas called Alexander Morton, who said he was in the bar that night, and had seen no gambling going on. By the Police—l was out of the bar part of the time, and gamb

lingcould have been carried on in my absence. H is Worship dismissed the charge of gambling, as he did not think Hayes’ evidence very reliable. The evidence having been repeated on the other charges, with the addition of that of John Judge, who had seen defendant’s house open on that night, and saw Hayes drinking there with five or six others. His Worship considered that there had been a breach of the law, and defendant would be fined £5 in each case. J W. Oram, of the City Hotel, was charged with supplying liquor in his licensed house on the night of the 27th March during prohibited hours, and keeping his house open during the same. William Raby remembered being in the City before eleven o’clock that night. He had been drinking all day, and did not remember making a complaint to Sergeant Kennedy. Frederick Reid was in the City Hotel that night about 10.30, and believed he was with the last witness. He was not sober, and did not recollect having complained to Sergeant Kennedy. He did not remember going back into the hotel with the sergeant and a constable. Sergeant Kennedy stated that on that night the two last witnesses made a complaint to him in High scrcst, and he returned with them to the City Hotel. Everything was quiet when he went into the hotel. Case dismissed. Frederick King of the Junction Hotel, appeared to answer similar complaints. Constable Hughes had gone into defendant’s bar on the night of the 26th, and saw several men in a parlor. There was a half gallon measure on the table, and some glasses and pewter pots. There was one man present whom he knew lived in St Asaph street, and he saw Mrs King coming from the bar, though the bar was locked when he went into the house. ■ He also saw a boy named Clark go in and come out with some beer. In cross-examination the witness stated Mr King told him the beer was for his lodgers who had been to Sumner that day. There was an old woman came out with a Maori kit. John Clark, a little boy, remembered going to defendant's house about 8 o’clock that night aud getting some shandygaff. He went into the bar and one of the lodgers gave him the drink. He did not see the man draw the beer. He gave the man a sixpence. James Holt, living at St Albans swamp, was in defendant’s house that night, and bad a drink with the lodgers out a quart pot. He did not pay for it. He knew the defendant had refused drink to several persons that night. In cross-examination witness said that he had been spending the afternoon with defendant. He knew that the lodgers had been down to Sumner that day, and there was no tea prepared for them, and they had half a gallon of beer instead, out of which he took a drink. Mr Thomas called Thomas Jones, one of the lodgers, who stated that on their return from Sumner that day there was no tea prepared, and Mr King told him to draw two quarts of beer. When he had opened the bar for that purpose, the little boy came in for sixpenny worth of beer, and he drew it and kept the money until Saturday morning. When the woman came in with the Maori kit she was refused to be served. His Worship said there had been no doubt drink supplied and money taken, and the Ordinance had been very closely shaved. As defendant had not been summoned before the Court on any previous occasion, the information would be dismissed. Similar informations of same date were preferred against Henry Lewis, of the Devonshire Arms Hotel. Defendant admitted supplying drinks on that date, but he had to keep the door open by which the constable entered, as it was a private entrance. Fined £5 on each information. James Boot, summoned for neglecting to keep a light burning over bis shop in High street, licensed under the Ordinance, from quarter past eight until five minutes to ten, was fined 10s. Breach of Park Bye laws.— -Joseph Beswick and Arthur Pearson, two boys, were charged with wilfully damaging oak trees in Hagley park. The park ranger stated that there were some branches of trees broken, though he did not actually see the boys break them. They, however, ran away when he came up. Fined 5s each.

Breach op Protection to Animals Act. —John Knight was charged with unlawfully having native game in his possession during the close season. William De Troy stated that on the 30th of Ma"ch he went to defendant’s house on some business, and saw two grey ducks and one bittern hanging up outside his back door. He might tell the Bench that during the holidays, and prior to the season, there had been more shooting going on in his district than since the opening of the season, and he regretted to say that he had on several occasions seen members of the Canterbury Boating Club come down in outrigged boats and shoot there before the legitimate time. It had been found necessary on a previous occasion to make a complaint to the captain of that club with reference to the conduct of some of the members. He had shot over the district for many years, and it was always considered an excellent one during the earlier portion of the season, but the action of some persons lately in shooting before the legitimate time was rapidly destroying the shooting in the district. It had come 1o his knowledge that a pheasant had been shot there, and he saw some men shooting out of season, but there was a lake between him and them and they escaped. Mr Thomas, who was in court, said he was one of the committee of the Canterbury Boating Club, and would take care that this matter was brought before the meeting of the committee to be held shortly. His Worship passed a higheulogium on Mr De Troy for his energy as ranger, and would like to see other rangers following his example. Defendant said he had reared the grey ducks, and did not think bitterns were on the list of protected birds. His Worship told defendant he was liable to a penalty of £2O, but though he did not believe his statement about the ducks or bittern, he would only inflict half the penalty. Fined £los.

Tresspassing in Pursuit of Game.— John Efford, sen, and George Goodyer, charged with tresspassing on Mr De Troy’s land on Ist April, in pursuit of game, and also with taking possession of his boat without permission, were each fined 10s. Wm. McWilliams was also summoned for tresspassing on Mr De Troy’s land on same date. Mr Thomas appeared for defendant, and contended that his client had not trespassed on Mr De Troy’s laud, but had gone up the creek to the Horse Shoe Lake, where the complainant had seen him. If the Court was not satisfied that this was the case, he would ask that the case might be adjourned to allow of the survey being made. Mr DeTroy would prefer the case being dismissed to adjournment. Case dismissed.

Transfer op License.— A transfer of the license of the Burnham Hotel, Burnham, from Hugh Corbett to Sydney Campbell was granted.